Seattle

Erik and I enjoyed a much-needed vacation last week. We went to Seattle for five nights. We enjoyed walking around Pike Place Market, took a ferry to Victoria, rode a bus to Mt. Rainer, and just had a relaxing week. It was beautiful! We are very thankful to Nana and Pop for taking care of Ellie Grace and Niklas for us.

Seattle Pictures

The Birthday Boy!

Niklas celebrated his 4th birthday as well as his Gotcha Day/Family Day in June. He was thrilled to have his friends and relatives come to celebrate. He loved all the presents and his cake! It has been a challenging year but I now have a little boy who asks for hugs and says "I love you mommy" so I think we have turned a brighter corner.

The Birthday Girl

Ellie Grace turned five last week! Her Grandma Sue and Grandpa How came over with lunch and a gift on Monday. They gave her a new set of Lego's. She and I share the same birthday so I made spaghetti for dinner and we had cake and ice cream before she opened her gifts from us on Tuesday night. We invited her class and a few other special friends to PLAY on Saturday. It was a smaller crowd than expected, but all the children seemed to have a great time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE!

Beach Pictures

Pawley's Island

We spent the first week of summer vacation at the beach. It was Niklas and my nephew Gavin's first beach experience. Ellie Grace is in love with the beach and was excited to be there with my parents for the fourth year in a row. Erik didn't get to go last year due to our quick referral and travel to China so he was ready for a bit of R&R this year. It was great to spend time with my brother Brian, Vickie, baby Gavin, and my parents (known as Nana and Pop).
Ellie Grace really wanted her Uncle Brian to dig a big hole like he has done in the past years but she was content to make drip castles with me, fly the kite that Aunt Kristi sent her, and go in the water with daddy and Niklas. Niklas enjoyed sitting in the shallow water or wading out while holding tightly to Erik's hand. He played in the sand a little but his interest was in being in the water.
Erik and I are grateful to Nana(who broke her ankle the first night) and Pop for allowing us to have a "date night" while we were there. We had a wonderful dinner at a historic restaurant that Brian and Vickie had eaten at earlier in the week.